Diving suit with stretchable waistband

Abstract

A diving suit has an upper torso portion and a lower torso portion. The upper and lower torso portions are connected and one is layered and folded upon itself in the waistband area. A stretchable waistband is connected to the upper and lower torso portions about the circumference of the diving suit on the inside of the diving suit over the layered area and allows the upper torso portion to move relative to the lower torso portion while the user is entering the diving suit and during operation thereafter. A recess in the waistband area accommodates the bottom of the zipper which extends diagonally across the forward torso portion.

I claim: 
     
       1. A diving suit comprising an upper torso portion and a lower torso portion operable to fit the body of a user, said upper torso portion being connected to said lower torso portion, a waistband panel extending between said upper torso and said lower torso portions and being connected at upper and lower attachment areas to said upper and lower torso portions, respectively, one of said upper and lower torso portions being layered in said waistband area between said upper and lower attachment areas, said waistband panel being resilient and stretchable so as to allow longitudinal expansion and contraction of said diving suit in said waistband area. 
     
     
       2. Diving suit as in claim 1 wherein said upper torso portion moves relative to said lower torso portion. 
     
     
       3. Diving suit as in claim 2 and further comprising a zipper in said upper torso portion. 
     
     
       4. Diving suit as in claim 3 wherein said waistband panel includes a stretchband overlaying said layered waistband area inside said diving suit. 
     
     
       5. Diving suit as in claim 4 wherein said upper torso is connected to said lower torso by stitching. 
     
     
       6. Diving suit as in claim 5 wherein one of said upper or lower torso portions is doubled over in said layered waistband area. 
     
     
       7. Diving suit as in claim 6 wherein said waistband comprises a stretch band and fabric connected to said stretchband on the upper and lower circumferences of said stretchband. 
     
     
       8. Diving suit as in claim 7 wherein said stretchband is connected to said fabric by stitching. 
     
     
       9. Diving suit as in claim 8 wherein said fabric on said upper and lower circumferences of said stretchband is connected to said upper and lower torso portions, respectively, of said diving suit. 
     
     
       10. Diving suit as in claim 9 wherein said fabric is connected to said upper and lower torso portions of said suit by waterproof sealing tape. 
     
     
       11. Diving suit as in claim 10 and further comprising a zipper in the forward portion of said diving suit. 
     
     
       12. Diving suit as in claim 11 wherein said zipper extends into said waistband area, said waistband including a recess to accommodate said zipper and being operable to avoid contact between said zipper and said waistband. 
     
     
       13. Diving suit as in claim 12 wherein said zipper extends diagonally across the forward portion of said diving suit, said recess in said waistband being on one side of the central axis of said diving suit. 
     
     
       14. Diving suit as in claim 13 and further comprising a gaiter connected to each leg of said diving suit, each of said gaiter having a zipper, said zippers each having open and closed conditions, said closed condition maintaining said gaiters in close contact with said legs of said diving suit and said open condition maintaining said gaiters in loose contact with said legs of said diving suit.